Greeting (1 Tim 1:2)Psalm (95) Pastoral Confession Heavenly Father, eternal and merciful God; we acknowledge and confess before your divine Majesty that we are poor miserable sinners, conceived and born in sin and corruption, prone to all evil, and unfit for any . . . Continue reading →
Author Archives: R. Scott Clark
Bucer’s Strasbourg Liturgy (1539)
Public Confession of Sins Make confession to God the Lord, and let everyone acknowledge with me his sin and iniquity: Almighty, eternal God and Father, we confess and acknowledge unto You that we were conceived in unrighteousness and are full of sin . . . Continue reading →
Why Pastors Need a Seminary Education
The More Things Change Over the years many things have changed at Westminster Seminary California (WSC). In the most important ways, however, the seminary has not changed. We still believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God. We . . . Continue reading →
The Synod of Dort on Sabbath Observance
Session 164, May 17 PM Trans. R. Scott Clark Rules on the observation of the Sabbath, or the Lord’s Day, with the agreement of the brothers from Zeeland the following concepts were explained and approved by Doctor Professors of Divinity. I.In the . . . Continue reading →
Warfield’s Brief and Untechnical Statement of the Reformed Faith
By B. B. Warfield 1. I believe that God, since the creation of His world, has plainly revealed through the things He has made His eternal power and divine nature, and the requirements of His law, so that there is no excuse . . . Continue reading →
Report of the URCNA Synodical Study Committee on the Federal Vision and Justification
This report was written for Synod London (Ontario, Canada) 2010. The PDF is here.
On the Noun “Homosexual” in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10
[Note: Below are some notes I compiled as part of a broader discussion about how Christians ought to think about homosexuality. The argument was made that the Bible does not really speak clearly to the question of homosexual behavior. In response I . . . Continue reading →
The Two Witnesses and Lampstands in Revelation 11
Bill asks, [C]ould you give me a quick answer to who the two witnesses are in Rev 11:3, and the identity of the two olive trees and two lampstands in verse 4? Dear Bill, I understand the Revelation to have been given . . . Continue reading →
Sympathy for Angus
First published 29 November 2012. Update below. By now you’ve probably heard or read about the comments by Angus T. Jones. If not, you can see them here. Through a couple of videos Jones tells the story of how he got into television . . . Continue reading →
Prayer Request for Two Reformed Church Plants in Europe
Andrea Ferarri, Pastor of a confessional Reformed congregation in Italy writes to say that Rev Mike Brown, Pastor of Christ United Reformed Church (Santee, CA) will be in Milan later this month to preach and teach. Among his topics, is “The Gospel-Driven . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Hywel Jones on Preaching the Doctrine of Regeneration (You Need to Hear This)
Of course I always want you to listen and subscribe to Office Hours but I especially want you (and everyone) to hear this interview with the Rev Dr Hywel Jones on preaching the doctrine of regeneration to Christian congregations. We’re discussing Hywel’s . . . Continue reading →
Helm Replies to Lucas on the Nature of “Affections” in Edwards
Paul Helm wrote a very interesting critique of Edwards, one with which the HB has some sympathy. Sean Lucas replied by arguing that Helm had read too much into the noun “affections.” Helm has replied to Lucas by arguing that, in Edwards . . . Continue reading →
Audio: John Bolt on What America Owes Jesus as Lord-Theocratic Fears and Patriotic Ambitions
It’s been delightful to have Calvin Theological Seminary prof, John Bolt, on campus for the last two days. He spoke Wednesday on Herman Bavinck and yesterday on “quiet theocracy.”
Who Gets to Say What Counts as Religious Affections and On What Basis?
Darryl Hart writes: “The proponents of Edwards and the First Pretty Good Awakening (hereafter FPGA) are worried about nominal Christianity – that is, people who go through the motions of worship or Christian practice. Although this is an understandable concern – who . . . Continue reading →
Brian Lee Reviews Love Wins
Brian Lee reviews Love Wins on the Daily Caller. Brian writes: “Rob Bell is one of the hottest Christian preachers in the nation today, but does he say anything that’s uniquely Christian? In his new book, “Love Wins,” Bell paints a picture . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Fesko on the Fruit of the Spirit, Isaiah, and Practical Arminianism
In this episode Office Hours talks with Dr John Fesko, Academic Dean and Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at WSC and author of The Fruit of the Spirit Is about the nature of the Christian life and especially about whether sanctification (growth . . . Continue reading →
Critique of Driscoll and YRR Movement Now in Portuguese
Thanks to Alan Rennê for making a translation of the HB post: “Calvinism Old and New.”
On Christian Freedom, Two Kingdoms, and the Right Use of Scripture
I’m grateful that you’re reading Recovering the Reformed Confession and that you took the time to write. I don’t know that I will be able to satisfy your concerns. It may be that we disagree on some basic issues. Let me try . . . Continue reading →
Hart: It’s Not About Style
Darryl writes: “…pipe organs are no more beautiful than guitars, and upper-, middle-, and lower-class aesthetics have no standing in “traditional” Reformed worship. The reason has everything to do with theology of the Lord’s Day, when Christians assemble with all the angels . . . Continue reading →
What You Don’t Know About Harold Camping
Harold Camping is back in the news with yet another prediction of Jesus’ return. What you might know not, however, is that Harold has a history of this dating back to before his first false prediction in 1994. He was an elder . . . Continue reading →